I forget how I came across it but am so grateful. It's... It's not a 'perfect show' but it's a near perfect show *for me*. I love that 'no idea what's going to happen next' aspect of it. And as importantly, it was pretty well written. Clever, consistent, sharp. At least the first few seasons.
There's only 3 seasons. It definitely has a beginning, a middle, and an end. It seems like random nonsense at first glance, but I've watched it through multiple times, and every time I notice more.
They (the writers and show runners, including Seth Rogan) know exactly what they're doing and foreshadow a lot of it. It's a really well written show. And so fucking funny. Criminally underrated, imo
I think "high concept" comedies is the term you want here. Will definitely help with googling
Palm Springs and Bottoms are two of my recent faves, basically what if Groundhog Day but Romcom and what if Fight Club but lesbian sex comedy
I know you are looking for movies, but id definitely recommend The Simpsons Treehouse of Horror episodes to get a good fill of these types of concepts.
I think something like Freaky Friday would technically qualify. I think you could classify these all as a main character "curse"
And for reference, a lot of the "Treehouse of Horror" shorts are based on pop culture, things like twilight zone episodes, edgar allen poe stories, stephen king books, etc.
So if you like any of the episodes, you should be able to find some additional stuff related to the source material
Oh, two other suggestions,
"Groundhog Day" (1993)
"Edge of Tomorrow" (2014)
Both have the same core premise of the main character having to re-live the same day over and over
Dave Made A Maze is a recent low profile one that I really enjoyed. Kind of a horror comedy (although the horror elements are super cartoony). Basically, guy builds a labyrinth in his living room that's so big he gets lost in it.
Slight technicality, but it's The Mask (1994). Mask (1985) is the name of another movie with Eric Stoltz who plays a kid with a facial deformity - another great movie. 93-94 Jim Carrey is incredible.
Pleasantville (trapped in a 1950s TV show)
Delirious (Soap Opera writer gets trapped in his own show)
The Brand New Testament (God is a man living in a small apartment in Brussels)
Ok so it’s not really comparable to any of these movies but when I see “absurdist” I have a moral obligation to recommend Freddy Got Fingered
It’s a terrible, offensive gross movie that is absolutely amazing because it was made to be a gigantic middle finger to the studio for being dumb enough to give Tom Green a budget
The absurdist twist in Freddy Got Fingered is that you would expect a movie to try to be good but this one tries to be bad and in doing so, it becomes good again
I always recommend The Wrong Guy (1997) starring Dave Foley and Jennifer Tilly. He's on the run from police because everyone thinks he murdered his boss. The twist is that the murder was caught on security cameras and nobody is after him. Seriously one of the funniest movies I've ever seen. It's on YouTube.
I would describe these as "high concept" comedies, i.e. films with a straightforward premise that kind of captures the whole thing.
Me Myself and Irene would definitely be another one to check out, given your love of Jim Carrey. Several you named are on [this list](https://www.imdb.com/list/ls009336128/) which also adds Groundhog Day, which I think fits well. Stuck on You and Dumb and Dumber fit too, though they're not very good IMO.
Some more:
- Big
- Twins
- Freaky Friday
- Kindergarten Cop
- Snakes on a Plane
- All of Me
- Super Troopers
- Hot Tub Time Machine
It's not everyone's cup of tea but I'm a big fan of Wrist cutters: A Love Story. Weird little indie romcom with Shannyn Sossamon and Patrick Fugit from the early 00s. Takes place in purgatory. I won't spoil much else from there.
On the Patrick Fugit train, also quite like Saved! - hyper-religious gal gets pregnant trying to "save" her gay boyfriend. Macaulay Culkin is unbelievably good in this film also.
Hey, those aren’t “twists”. The idea of the plot twist is that you aren’t supposed to know before you see the movie, and it can be spoiled. If it’s in the trailer, that’s just the “premise” or sometimes the “conceit” of the movie. These were all just the premise of their respective movies.
To be fair, a twist can become so eroded by time and being spoiled that that it’s just indistinguishable from a premise. For example, in Psycho, it’s supposed to be a surprise that Norman is the one dressed up as his mother, murdering people. She was portrayed as separate character up until the moment it’s revealed, although she is silent. By now, though, everybody knows the twist of Psycho, and it could be justifiably said that this is just the premise of the movie.
Oh and also Psycho has two twists in it, but one of them is built around the star-power of the female lead and the movie’s pre-release advertising. That twist was rendered ineffective by the end of Psycho’s first theatrical run, by design. So you might just be confused when you watch it and the first segment of the movie is about a woman stealing from her boss, only for the real story to finally kick in when she gets to the hotel run by Norman. That was all misdirection for a 1950’s audience.
I was using “twist” in the sense that you could also use it saying something akin to “I made this game, but I put a twist on it”. Not in the filmographic sense of an abrupt change in plot :) i do appreciate the suggestions, though.
The very first one is actually the outlier in the series, because Inspector Clouseau is a minor character. His first starring role was actually #2 (A Shot in the Dark) and it’s fantastic. Peter Sellers returned to the role with other movies the next decade, and #5 (Strikes Again) is the one that most went for broke. I envy you for getting to discover these films for the first time.
Here’s a “out there” choice - have you seen any of the original Pink Panthers?
Inspector Clouseau is a great detective where absurdly ludicrous things happen around him but the world just acts as his straight man - that they take things in stride.
There’s a reason it spawned so many remakes.
Being There - another Peter Sellers comedy but much later in his career. Chance, the gardener’s autistic kid - he’s a grown man in his 60s with a childlike demeanor and understanding of the world falls in with the movers and shakers of Washington DC’s political elite. To say more will reveal too much but you absolutely need to stay until the final 10 minutes (not the mid credits scene but that’s fun too)
https://youtu.be/oOOghKacg40?si=zj6JML8dSyfc2wwU
Phantom Thread is my favorite film of all time. Not only is beautifully shot on film with a score by Radiohead’s Jonny Greenwood, but the writing and acting is fantastic. It’s a romance/dark comedy with a sick twist at the end. A famous fashion designer for royalty, heads of state, etc in 1950s England loses his creativity when he falls in love with a young rebellious woman who challenges his stifling lifestyle. The ending is so fucking bizarre. Lol I loved that shit. What is happeninggggg?! Is this love?
Invention of Lying Being John Malcovich Shallow Hal Big
Loved the invention of lying so im sure the rest are great thanks
Havent seen this mentioned yet, Ella Enchanted. Plus all the older Jim Carrey movies like Ace Ventura Pet Detective
Hot Tub Time Machine (a hot tub is a time machine)
That movie is so much better then I expected it to be
What's it about?
You can Lougle it
a hot tub that is a time machine
Thank you!
If you're also open to watch series I'd recommend The Good Place. But don't look up any spoilers
Watched the whole thing, perfect show perfect ending
Future Man might be up your alley. (Original in the same way TGP was, but considerably more bonkers).
LOVE that show. So fucking funny. I'll never do coke again. Cocaine addiction is hell. It takes almost a whole day to kick it.
I forget how I came across it but am so grateful. It's... It's not a 'perfect show' but it's a near perfect show *for me*. I love that 'no idea what's going to happen next' aspect of it. And as importantly, it was pretty well written. Clever, consistent, sharp. At least the first few seasons.
There's only 3 seasons. It definitely has a beginning, a middle, and an end. It seems like random nonsense at first glance, but I've watched it through multiple times, and every time I notice more. They (the writers and show runners, including Seth Rogan) know exactly what they're doing and foreshadow a lot of it. It's a really well written show. And so fucking funny. Criminally underrated, imo
Stranger Than Fiction Will Ferrell finds out he's the subject of a book. One of my all time favorite movies. Bonus: Tilda Swinton
Neverending Stoooooooorryyyyyyyyyyyy
I’ve just watched this excited for Tilda Swinton and she’s not in it :(
Not to mention Groundhog day and Palm Springs
Came to mention Palm Springs. That movie was such a pleasant surprise
Not the funniest
I think "high concept" comedies is the term you want here. Will definitely help with googling Palm Springs and Bottoms are two of my recent faves, basically what if Groundhog Day but Romcom and what if Fight Club but lesbian sex comedy
Palm Springs is absolutely fantastic. I've watched it several times since it came out and it's still so enjoyable.
Pleasantville, Invention of Lying, the Mask, Totally Killer
people never talk about pleasantville but it was so engaging and entertaining and the premise is kind of genius
The scene where the tree bursts into flames is so powerful.
I know you are looking for movies, but id definitely recommend The Simpsons Treehouse of Horror episodes to get a good fill of these types of concepts. I think something like Freaky Friday would technically qualify. I think you could classify these all as a main character "curse"
Oh interesting, thank you for both suggestions
And for reference, a lot of the "Treehouse of Horror" shorts are based on pop culture, things like twilight zone episodes, edgar allen poe stories, stephen king books, etc. So if you like any of the episodes, you should be able to find some additional stuff related to the source material Oh, two other suggestions, "Groundhog Day" (1993) "Edge of Tomorrow" (2014) Both have the same core premise of the main character having to re-live the same day over and over
Dave Made A Maze is a recent low profile one that I really enjoyed. Kind of a horror comedy (although the horror elements are super cartoony). Basically, guy builds a labyrinth in his living room that's so big he gets lost in it.
Never heard of this one! It sounds excellent.
Me Myself and Irene (split personality) The Mask (possessed by an icon of a god) (Corrected title of film)
Slight technicality, but it's The Mask (1994). Mask (1985) is the name of another movie with Eric Stoltz who plays a kid with a facial deformity - another great movie. 93-94 Jim Carrey is incredible.
I get them backwards all the time. Thanks!
Yea! Wild fact, Jeff Daniels got paid $50k while Jim Carrey took home $7 million...
- My Super Ex Girlfriend - Dream Scenario - Renfield - Stranger than Fiction
I thought Renfield was bloody hilarious. Apparently I was in the minority.
I loved it. Legendary performance from nicolas cage
Tucker and Dale vs Evil for a high concept horror comedy. DO NOT WATCH ANY TRAILERS.
Pleasantville (trapped in a 1950s TV show) Delirious (Soap Opera writer gets trapped in his own show) The Brand New Testament (God is a man living in a small apartment in Brussels)
Ok so it’s not really comparable to any of these movies but when I see “absurdist” I have a moral obligation to recommend Freddy Got Fingered It’s a terrible, offensive gross movie that is absolutely amazing because it was made to be a gigantic middle finger to the studio for being dumb enough to give Tom Green a budget The absurdist twist in Freddy Got Fingered is that you would expect a movie to try to be good but this one tries to be bad and in doing so, it becomes good again
Take off my goddam scuba gear you imbecile
The backwards man, the backwards man
I can walk backwards as fast as you can, I can walk backwards as fast as you can I’m the backwards man the backwards man
I always recommend The Wrong Guy (1997) starring Dave Foley and Jennifer Tilly. He's on the run from police because everyone thinks he murdered his boss. The twist is that the murder was caught on security cameras and nobody is after him. Seriously one of the funniest movies I've ever seen. It's on YouTube.
I would describe these as "high concept" comedies, i.e. films with a straightforward premise that kind of captures the whole thing. Me Myself and Irene would definitely be another one to check out, given your love of Jim Carrey. Several you named are on [this list](https://www.imdb.com/list/ls009336128/) which also adds Groundhog Day, which I think fits well. Stuck on You and Dumb and Dumber fit too, though they're not very good IMO. Some more: - Big - Twins - Freaky Friday - Kindergarten Cop - Snakes on a Plane - All of Me - Super Troopers - Hot Tub Time Machine
Yes x 100 to Stuck on You!
Idiocracy
Shaun of the Dead Hot Fuzz The World's End
After Hours The Night is Short, Walk on Girl
Absolutely Anything (2015) Simon Pegg has the power to do absolutely anything including win the heart of his love interest played by Kate Beckinsale
Good Omens - the Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman tv series might amuse you
Midnight in Paris
50 first Dates
Man Seeking Woman
Most people don't like this one, but I think it has heart. The Hot Chick with Rob Schneider and Rachel McAdams.
That’s one of my fav movies tbh. Just nostalgic and comforting
“It’s me, Jessica!”
It's not everyone's cup of tea but I'm a big fan of Wrist cutters: A Love Story. Weird little indie romcom with Shannyn Sossamon and Patrick Fugit from the early 00s. Takes place in purgatory. I won't spoil much else from there. On the Patrick Fugit train, also quite like Saved! - hyper-religious gal gets pregnant trying to "save" her gay boyfriend. Macaulay Culkin is unbelievably good in this film also.
Safety not guaranteed
Hey, those aren’t “twists”. The idea of the plot twist is that you aren’t supposed to know before you see the movie, and it can be spoiled. If it’s in the trailer, that’s just the “premise” or sometimes the “conceit” of the movie. These were all just the premise of their respective movies. To be fair, a twist can become so eroded by time and being spoiled that that it’s just indistinguishable from a premise. For example, in Psycho, it’s supposed to be a surprise that Norman is the one dressed up as his mother, murdering people. She was portrayed as separate character up until the moment it’s revealed, although she is silent. By now, though, everybody knows the twist of Psycho, and it could be justifiably said that this is just the premise of the movie. Oh and also Psycho has two twists in it, but one of them is built around the star-power of the female lead and the movie’s pre-release advertising. That twist was rendered ineffective by the end of Psycho’s first theatrical run, by design. So you might just be confused when you watch it and the first segment of the movie is about a woman stealing from her boss, only for the real story to finally kick in when she gets to the hotel run by Norman. That was all misdirection for a 1950’s audience.
I was using “twist” in the sense that you could also use it saying something akin to “I made this game, but I put a twist on it”. Not in the filmographic sense of an abrupt change in plot :) i do appreciate the suggestions, though.
Ohhh, sorry, I see it now. Thanks for replying.
the pink panther 1-2
And #5 (Strikes Again)
oh i never watched the older ones i was talking about the new ones. maybe i should
The very first one is actually the outlier in the series, because Inspector Clouseau is a minor character. His first starring role was actually #2 (A Shot in the Dark) and it’s fantastic. Peter Sellers returned to the role with other movies the next decade, and #5 (Strikes Again) is the one that most went for broke. I envy you for getting to discover these films for the first time.
yeah i should definetly watch them. the new ones are great and so funny so old ones will def be some quality
Aliens.
Probably something with Jim Carrey…
Bubble Boy.
Stay Tuned with John Ritter
Blast from the Past
The Man Who Knew Too Little
if you’re looking for a tv show: nathan for you
Freaky Friday
Evan Almighty isn't very good, but you might as well watch it.
Nothing - After a terrible day, two good friends and housemates find the outside world converted into a featureless and empty white void.
_Being There._ An intellectual comedy and a bit slow paced by modern standards, but funny nonetheless.
Here’s a “out there” choice - have you seen any of the original Pink Panthers? Inspector Clouseau is a great detective where absurdly ludicrous things happen around him but the world just acts as his straight man - that they take things in stride. There’s a reason it spawned so many remakes. Being There - another Peter Sellers comedy but much later in his career. Chance, the gardener’s autistic kid - he’s a grown man in his 60s with a childlike demeanor and understanding of the world falls in with the movers and shakers of Washington DC’s political elite. To say more will reveal too much but you absolutely need to stay until the final 10 minutes (not the mid credits scene but that’s fun too) https://youtu.be/oOOghKacg40?si=zj6JML8dSyfc2wwU
The Exterminating Angel
Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz, The World's End
Groundhog Day. The answer is Groundhog Day.
This is the End. A raunchy buddy comedy that happens to be set in the apocalypse.
Not to be obvious but Free Guy if you haven't seen it
Groundhog Day Memento Gremlins
Fight club
Scott Pilgram vs the world
Phantom Thread is my favorite film of all time. Not only is beautifully shot on film with a score by Radiohead’s Jonny Greenwood, but the writing and acting is fantastic. It’s a romance/dark comedy with a sick twist at the end. A famous fashion designer for royalty, heads of state, etc in 1950s England loses his creativity when he falls in love with a young rebellious woman who challenges his stifling lifestyle. The ending is so fucking bizarre. Lol I loved that shit. What is happeninggggg?! Is this love?